Harness-buckle.



LJ. WESSEL.

HARNESS BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26. |911.

1,281,450. Patnted Oct. 15, 1918.

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,may be quickly LOUIS J'. WESSEL, 0F ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.

HARNESS-BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Application filed May 26, 1 917. Serial No. 171,124.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS J. WnssnL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Island, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness- Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for an object to provide a buckle which will effect a material saving in the amount of leather required in the construction of parts ofharness, particularly in connection with such as those in the adjusting and fastening 'straps of halters. Another object is to give a form of buckle which Will be comfortable to the animal upon which it is used, which will lie close to the body of the animal, and which manipulated. A further purpose is to enable the vproduction of such a buckle at a low cost and in a form to readily sustain the severe stresses to which it may be subjected. l

, Additional objects and advantages will appear from the construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle constructed in accordance withmy invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a detail of the buckle in course of assembly,

Fig. 4 is a view of a halter in which the buckle is used, showing the method of its utilization.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the buckle illustrating another manner of its use.

There is illustrated a buckle comprising a frame portion 10, including side bars 11 and integral connecting bars 12 between the ends of the bars 11. On one side of the iframe 10 on each side of bar 11, adjacent the medial transverse line, there are formed longitudinally spaced outwardly projecting and slightly tapered lugs 14, the material of the frame being malleable, so that these lugs may be bent toward eachother to meet snugly as at 15 in Fig. 2. The recess 16 between the lugs 14 is rounded at the inner part, so that when the lugs are bent together a circular opening is formed therebetween. A bail frame 17 is provided, substantially square, although this is not essential, and including a pivot bar 18, inserted between the lugs 14, which are then bent inwardly over the bar to hold it loosely for pivotal movement; side bars 19, and an outer bail bar 20, all preferably formed from one piece, in the frame 17 if essential. A tongue 21 of any usual kind is pivoted on the bar 18, the tongue being of a length to lie with its outer end resting upon one of the bars 12. The frame 10 is slightly curved outwardly away from the side of which the lugs 14 are formed, and toward the ends. It should also be noted that the side bars 11 of the framell() lie very close to the bars 19 of the frame 17.

In the use of the device, the bail frame 17 is utilized tov secure to the buckle a number of divergent straps which require to be connected releasably to still another strap, the last named strap being secured by means of the buckle prong, the strap being` inserted through the frame 10 in the customary manner, as will be readily understood. Thus, in

a halter, the cheek strap 22 at one side is looped around the outer bar 2() of the bail frame and stitched-down, the throat strap 23 being similarly connected to the adjacent side bar 19 of the frame 17, the crown strap 24 extending downwardly to the buckle and being suitably apertured for securement by the tongue 21 in the usual manner. The end of the strap 24 is inserted under the bar 12 at the upper end of the frame 10, and the tongue 21 inserted through one of the apertures of the strap, after which the end is then inserted downwardly through the frame 10 and drawn outwardly under the lower bar 12. In this manner, the lowerbar 12 pressing lightly upon the confined end of the strap, holds the upper end of the frame 17 outwardly from the cheekl of the animal and prevents it from suffering discomfort. Also, the frame 10 will bear somewhat upon that part of the strap 23 which extends over the bar 19, the frame 17 being of such width that the sides of the frame 10 pass very close to the side bars 19. Thus, instead of the enltire pressure falling upon the end of the strap 24 under the frame 10, the pressure 1s communicated evenly tothe lower part of the frame 17 and the strap portions attached thereto afford a broad comfortable support for the buckle upon the animal.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated the use of the device in which three straps are connected to the frame 17, extending in three directions, while a third strap may be secured by the buckle by means of the tongue 21 and although a joint may be formed 10 to operate as illustrated in Fig. 5.

outer part of the frame 10. As in the first use of the buckle, the lower part of the frame 10 Will engage at the sides upon the strap portions engaged around the side bars of the frame 17.

It Will be seen that a very simple buckle is provided adapted to be produced economically, and Which Will operate efliciently, and one that is liable in a minimum degree to damage or derangement.

In the production of the invention, it is proposed, in addition to supplying the buckles with the frames 10 and 17 assembled, to supply the frame 10 With a tongue element 21, so that persons owning` the usual form of halter, or other harness equipment may attach the frame 10 to the ordinary ring or square frame' used at strap junctions in harness, by laying a portion of the harness connection between the lugs 14 of the frame, and hammering the lugsthereoi, the frame 10 being supplied as shown, in Fig. 3. Then the tongue may be attached to the harness connection Within the. frame The use of the device in'this Way Will be readily understood by those acquainted With the art. In this Way it is possible to use the invention Vas a repair element With'great advantage. For instance, When a strap fastening pulls loose from the ring or buckle, the user may simply trim the end of the strap, and in a Gopiesrof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the case Where no buckle is involved, the strap end is suitably trimmed and punched to be engaged Within the frame 10 andvupon the tongue 21, as With an ordinary buckle, the

frame 10 and tongue 21 having been mountbe set between ksaid ears, said ears being inclined toward each other over said bar to Vhold the second named frame revolubly, and

a tongue member pivoted onl said bar of the 50 frame includinga transverse bar adapted toV second named frame, for the kpurposes described. Y n

In'testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature 1n presenceof two Witnesses.V

A' Witnesses: Y Y OSCAR L. JOHNSON, M. T. RUDGREN.

Washington, D. C.

VVLouis.1.-vvies`snn Commissioner of` Patents, 

